Big-box retailer Walmart is scheduled to start sales of the new iPad at 12:01 a.m. on March 16, beating Apple's own retail outlets to the punch.

Walmart has announced that it will be selling certain versions of Apple's new iPad shortly after midnight at 24-hour locations, which is a full eight hours ahead of Apple Stores' scheduled 8:00 a.m. launch time.

With online pre-orders depleted, customers looking to get the hotly anticipated new tablet on launch day have few options and can only hope to score a unit by waiting in line before resellers begin sales on Friday.

The retail giant will sell the 16GB Wi-Fi version of the device in either black or white for $499, though it is unclear if 4G LTE models will become available later in the day.

Along with Apple's own retail outlets and Walmart, Best Buy, RadioShack, Sams Club and Target are slated to take part in launch day sales. LTE-enabled models will also be available for purchase at Verizon and AT&amp;T stores.

Perhaps Wal-Mart got the idea from Telestra. From what I read the crowds were a little smaller in Australia than for the iPad 2 rollout, but I'm guessing it's because last year there were no pre-orders.

In any case, I'll gladly wait for the FedEx truck tomorrow. Actually, it will arrive while I'm at the office, so it will be there when I get home.

Wow, Wal-Mart wants to beat the Apple Stores to the punch. Pretty clever. I'd get one from Wal-Mart, then sell it to the highest bidder with cash standing in line at the Apple Store, for a reasonable mark up. Free market, baby. Free market.

In any case, I'll gladly wait for the FedEx truck tomorrow. Actually, it will arrive while I'm at the office, so it will be there when I get home.

I hope you have someone at home to accept and sign it for you. I am sure you are not foolish enough to pre-sign on the fedex website and have them leave it by your door. I am sure there will be some scum of the earth just walking through neighborhoods looking for a certain package size at doors on Friday.

Wow, Wal-Mart wants to beat the Apple Stores to the punch. Pretty clever. I'd get one from Wal-Mart, then sell it to the highest bidder with cash standing in line at the Apple Store, for a reasonable mark up. Free market, baby. Free market.

Eek!

Many people here hate those who buy Apple products specifically for resale. They call them Scalpers.

It's not about beating Apple to the punch so much as getting folks to walk into a Walmart. Many folks go their whole lives never doing that because they think that Walmart is some slum for white trash etc.

But now they can go to the local Walmart and try to get the iPad they couldn't preorder and if the tiny ass stock is sold out there's still plenty of time to go hop in the line at the local Apple store

Perhaps Wal-Mart got the idea from Telestra. From what I read the crowds were a little smaller in Australia than for the iPad 2 rollout, but I'm guessing it's because last year there were no pre-orders.

In any case, I'll gladly wait for the FedEx truck tomorrow. Actually, it will arrive while I'm at the office, so it will be there when I get home.

Many people here hate those who buy Apple products specifically for resale. They call them Scalpers.

There's nothing wrong with one person getting an extra iPad and selling it for higher if they can, but it's the professional scalpers who are the scum of the earth. I'm talking about kinds who operate in groups, like some sleazy little band of filthy, degenerate criminals.

There's nothing wrong with one person getting an extra iPad and selling it for higher if they can, but it's the professional scalpers who are the scum of the earth. I'm talking about kinds who operate in groups, like some sleazy little band of filthy, degenerate criminals.

I hope you have someone at home to accept and sign it for you. I am sure you are not foolish enough to pre-sign on the fedex website and have them leave it by your door. I am sure there will be some scum of the earth just walking through neighborhoods looking for a certain package size at doors on Friday.

I live in a building with a doorman. Otherwise, I'd have had it sent to my office.

I wonder if this is for all Walmart stores, or just the "super centers"?

Either way, I can see the lovely display, crammed between the 40-piece boxes of deep fried chicken, the 10lb tubs of lard, and acres of cheap, recyclicable clothing (i.e, the stuff that falls apart after your first laundry attempt).

Perhaps Wal-Mart got the idea from Telestra. From what I read the crowds were a little smaller in Australia than for the iPad 2 rollout, but I'm guessing it's because last year there were no pre-orders.

In any case, I'll gladly wait for the FedEx truck tomorrow. Actually, it will arrive while I'm at the office, so it will be there when I get home.

Just bought 4 at Walmart. There was me and this granny there in line for two hours. No one else. All those people in tents and here I am with a little old lady and no purchase limit, standing next to a trolley full of iPads. I felt underprivileged for sure :0) Bought 4 while I already have one on the way with FedEx. Anyone need one for a premium?

I can feel Steve J. Frowning but at least I have his attention

aren't you going to miss being the smarter minority when Apple goes mainstream?

Be kind to the price fixing, rent control crowd. Pray they don't move to your state.

Trust me when I say that you do not need to worry, as I will never move to your "state". I have spent more time than necessary on business trips there. Perhaps the freakiest dinner I ever attended was on the 7th floor of the Texas Book Depository. For dessert, we were invited to the 6th floor museum, where creepily smiling docents said charming things like "Wuh, this is the very gun used to kill President Kennedy!", and then we were encouraged to take photos on the street below where an even creepier big red "X" marked the exact spot where bullet met brain matter.

And that was the nicest part of the trip!

Pity the agnostic dyslectic. They spend all their time contemplating the existence of dog.

It's not about beating Apple to the punch so much as getting folks to walk into a Walmart. Many folks go their whole lives never doing that because they think that Walmart is some slum for white trash etc.

But now they can go to the local Walmart and try to get the iPad they couldn't preorder and if the tiny ass stock is sold out there's still plenty of time to go hop in the line at the local Apple store

Stereotype much? Ccomments like that make "many folks" think that Apple fanboys are pseudoelitist turds.